Frequently Asked Questions
About Visiting Trinity Cathedral
Entering any church for the first time can be daunting. It may seem like everyone else knows when to stand, sit, kneel, and bow. Don't worry! Whether you're a cradle Episcopalian or have never stepped inside a church, you are welcome. Friendly ushers will provide a bulletin to help you follow along in the service. Each Sunday service includes readings from the bible, a sermon, prayers, community announcements, and celebration of the Holy Eucharist (communion), with hymns and music throughout.
Yes, kids are welcome here! Sunday school meets during Sunday services, usually at least twice a month. We also offer a variety of activities throughout the year and a "Prayground": a carpeted space within the church which includes church-appropriate books and activities. Learn about the Sunday school schedule and our Children and Families ministry.
Yes, there is ample free parking on Sundays and holidays. We are also easily accessible by public transportation. Our address is 81 N. Second Street, San Jose.
No. Wear clothing that you find comfortable and suitable for worship.
Yes, unequivocally.
Yes. All are welcome at God’s table.
There is a wheelchair ramp on Second Street at the front of the church, as well as one leading from our parking lot into the main level of our parish hall. We recently installed a lift which services the lower level of our parish hall.
No, but we support those who choose to wear face coverings for health reasons.
Yes. Trinity Cathedral holds prayer and worship services, online or in person, every day of the week. Learn more.
Call the cathedral office at 408-293-7953 or send an email to cathedral@trinitysj.org.
At worship, ask an usher for a visitor card to fill out. This provides us with your information, lets you tell us what you'd like to know more about, and gives you the option to receive our weekly newsletter in your email inbox. We will follow up with you according to your indicated preferences.
About Our Faith and Our Denomination
Briefly stated: We believe every person is precious, made in God's image. We believe in a God of creation, redemption, and constant presence and love. We believe in the risen Lord, Jesus Christ. We believe that honest questioning is holier than false certitude.
The Book of Common Prayer contains our liturgy and expresses our doctrine. It includes an “Outline of the Faith” which addresses many common questions. But the best way to learn is through experience! Visit Trinity Cathedral and experience our worship and fellowship.
It is led by a Presiding Bishop, currently the Most Reverend Sean Rowe, who functions largely as an organizer and as pastor to the other bishops. Chief authority is vested in the General Convention, which is held every three years. Lay persons, bishops, priests, and deacons are all represented at General Convention.
The Episcopal Church ordains qualified and called persons of all genders and sexual orientations, married and unmarried, as bishops, priests, and deacons.
Yes. "The ministry of lay persons is to represent Christ and his Church; to bear witness to him wherever they may be; and, according to the gifts given them, to carry on Christ's work of reconciliation in the world; and to take their place in the life, worship, and governance of the Church." (Book of Common Prayer, p. 855.)
We are both! We are Catholic because our bishops stand in a line of apostolic succession reaching back to the first century. This means that we, like Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox, value our connection to the very first followers of Jesus Christ. Also, our customs and practices of worship may feel familiar to people acquainted with those of the Roman Catholic church. We are Protestant because our church rejected papal authority during the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation. Also, our understandings of the bible, freedom of conscience, and the authority of reason have been profoundly influenced by the Protestant Reformation and European Enlightenment. If you are interested in the fascinating history of Anglicanism and the Episcopal Church, we can recommend resources for further exploration.
Yes, very. Each Sunday morning, our congregation will hear at least three readings from the bible, which instructs us in salvation and spiritual growth. The bible is an essential source of authority, as are tradition and reason. In addition to prose narrative, the bible is rich in poetry, allegory, metaphor, and symbol. We believe it is misguided to treat the bible as a science textbook, a literalistic history, a patriotic manifesto, or a manual to attain material prosperity.
Yes and no. The Episcopal Church is part of a global family of churches known as the Anglican Communion. These independent churches maintain relations with one another through their voluntary communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is the chief bishop of England. Neither the Archbishop of Canterbury nor the British monarch has any governing authority over the Episcopal Church.
Yes. In addition to other Anglican churches, the Episcopal Church is in full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and several other churches. We also engage in dialogue and cooperation with a wide range of Christian and non-Christian groups.
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